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WAIPIO, Hawaii – Today, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii held a ground breaking ceremony and blessing for a two-story 87,000-square-foot outpatient medical clinic in Waipio Gentry. Kaiser Permanente, Next Design, LLC, and Nordic Construction executives used ceremonial Hawaiian ‘o’o sticks to turn the red dirt where pineapple once grew as The Rev. David Kaupu blessed the land.

“We are proud to be investing in our community and members in this way,” said new Kaiser Permanente Hawaii president Janice Head. “This new clinic will give us the opportunity to provide a wider range of quality care and service in a very inviting atmosphere. Our growing membership will certainly benefit.”

The Waipio location is ideal to provide the kind of facility needed to service a growing membership in the Leeward and Central Oahu areas. Since 2000, the number of members using Kaiser Permanente clinics in that area has grown about 31 percent. Currently, there are about 65,000 members getting medical services at its Punawai (Waipahu), Kapolei, Nanaikeola (Nanakuli), and Mililani clinics. This new clinic will replace the Punawai facility. There are approximately 233,000 Kaiser Permanente members statewide.

“This new clinic represents the establishment of a new system whereby we will have large clinics such as Waipio serving as a hub providing additional services to our neighborhood clinics,” said Norman Quon, Kaiser Permanente director of facilities services. “Our members won’t need to travel to the Moanalua Medical Center for certain services. Instead, the Waipio Clinic will be a short drive away.”

The clinic will cost a total of $32 million and is scheduled to be completed in fall 2004 and open soon thereafter.

“When we open, we will have 21 physicians and 120 staff members,” said Dr. Mike Chaffin, president of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, which provides the physicians who care for Kaiser Permanente Hawaii members. “We’ll also have space for additional physicians and staff when needed. We’re truly excited about building this terrific new facility for our Central and Leeward Oahu members.”

Next Design, LLC is the project’s architect and Nordic Construction, Ltd. is the general contractor. Grading of the property will begin on March 26.

About Kaiser Permanente Hawaii

About Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has provided total health to the people of Hawaii for more than 50 years, with physicians who are members of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, the largest multi-specialty physician group practice in the state of Hawaii. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. Visit kp.org for additional information, become a fan of good health at Facebook.com/KPHawaii or follow @KPHawaii on Twitter.